Withlacoochee State Forest, FL - Croom Trail & Citrus Wildlife Area

We did take Fri and Sat off and got a lot done, but we still have lots to do to get ready for the next 2 cruises. 

Sunday, the 11th we did some birding at the Croom Wildlife Management Area is located in Hernando and Sumter counties northeast of Brooksville, and encompasses more than 20,000 acres. This tract of the Withlacoochee State Forest lies along 13 winding miles of the Withlacoochee River and includes Silver Lake. Cypress and large expanses of longleaf pine dominate this forest. 

 Swainson's Thrush

 

 

We weren't seeing much here so we left and went to the Citrus Wildlife Area of Withlacoochee State Forest. Citrus WMA includes nearly 50,000 acres in Citrus and Hernando counties, just west of Inverness. High-quality sandhills support approximately 60 active colonies of red-cockaded woodpeckers. This wildlife management area is one of seven large tracts that make up the Withlacoochee State Forest.

 Red-bellied Woodpecker

 Palm Warbler

 Eastern Phoebe

 Palm Warbler

Palm Warbler

 

 the white bands signify nesting area of the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

 nesting holes

Despite finding lots of the marked trees we still have not seen a Red Cockaded Woodpecker. We ate a very late lunch at the first place we came across. Despite the look on the exterior, the pizza was quite good!

 stopped for lunch at this lovely looking place - Angelotti's Pizza

Tomorrow, we will do some more birding in the area.